Mrs. Wylie Joy and Mrs. Lafe McDonald

Mrs. Lafe McDonald, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wylie Joy, who lived
on James Peak, he came upon a wounded Indian, lying near the edge
of the river about fifteen miles west of Harper in Kimble County,
was staying with her parents while her husband was away in Old Mexico
during the Civil War. Someone had recently returned and brought some
letters from Lafe McDonald to his wife and these letters were left
at the home of Tom McDonald, who lived on Spring Creek about eight
miles east of Harper. Mrs. McDonald was exceedingly anxious to hear
from her husband, so she insisted that someone go horseback with her
to Tom McDonald's home. They made the trip horseback, and started
home early next morning. Mrs. Wylie Joy and her daughter, Mrs. Lafe
McDonald were both killed about one mile east of Harper. Many have
surmised that this deed was not done by Indians. Nevertheless, moccasin
tracks and other savage signs were discovered shortly afterwards.

Note: Author personally interviewed: Mrs. Augustus McDonald, a sister-in-law,
W.J. Nixon, and one or two others who were living in Gillespie and
adjoining counties at the time.

Further Ref.: 12. Hunter's Magazine, February 1912, and 1.
Frontier Times, June 1927.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by
Joseph Carroll McConnell.

The above story is from Indian Depredations in Texas by J.W. Wilbarger.